Pew finds huge support among Dems for gay marriage

The Pew Research Center reported Tuesday that its its latest national survey showed support for same sex marriage among Democrats has soared in the past four years, an indication of why the party platform committee unanimously endorsed marriage.

“Just four years ago, in 2008, only half (50%) of Democrats favored allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally, while 42% were opposed,” Pew said. “Support for gay marriage among Democrats has jumped to 65% today, more than double the percentage that is opposed (29%).”

The survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press was conducted June 28-July 9, 2012, among 2,973 adults.

“The partisan divide over gay marriage continues to widen,” the report said. Less than a quarter (24%) of Republicans favor same sex marriage, barely higher than in 2008 (19%).

That leaves Republicans trailing the general electorate. The survey said independent support has reached 51 percent, versus 40 percent opposed. In 2008 independents were divided evenly (44% favor, 45% oppose).

Democratic sub-groups, veer sharply from the party, however. Among African Americans, 51 percent oppose allowing gay men and lesbians to marry, while just 40 percent are in favor, a number virtually unchanged since President Obama announced his support earlier this year. Still, support among black Americans has jumped sharply since 2008, when just 26 percent favored gay marriage.

The survey shows that the dominance of Christian conservatives in the GOP is a big factor. Only 22 percent of white evangelical Protestants favor gay marriage, while 73 percent are opposed. “Black Protestants also oppose gay marriage, by a 54% to 38% margin,” the report said. “A majority of white non-Hispanic Catholics favor gay marriage, as do 50% of white mainline Protestants. Nearly three-quarters of the religiously unaffiliated support gay marriage.”

The survey also showed age playing a huge role, with younger Americans in much greater support than older persons. The writing is on the wall. “A large portion of the growth in acceptance of gay marriage over the past two decades is the result of generational replacement — the arrival of younger, more supportive generations making up a larger share of the population,” the survey found.